Jalen Hurts Out for the Season With Blood Clots in His Lungs; NFLPA Demands Investigation
Update: Hurts has deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, a clot that traveled to his lungs, and is expected to miss the rest of the season on blood thinners. The NFL will not discipline the Eagles; the players' union wants a full investigation.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will miss Sunday's game against Carolina because of a blood clot in his calf. A follow-up ultrasound Wednesday night showed "movement in the small blood clot," and the team said he will sit "as we determine the appropriate course of treatment."
How was it found?
Hurts asked for treatment on his calf after practice on Oct. 8 and told the staff he had been cleated in the Oct. 4 game against the Rams. An ultrasound in London on Oct. 10 found what the team called a superficial clot. Doctors there concluded activity was important, cleared him to play against Jacksonville and recommended a follow-up scan within 72 hours of the game. He played the full game, rode a stationary bike between series, and went 21 of 40 for 220 yards and a touchdown in the 19-17 loss. He practiced fully on Wednesday before the follow-up scan.
What happens now?
Tanner McKee is expected to start. The Eagles have not given a timeline, and NFL Network reported Hurts cannot play until the clot is resolved. Hurts, 28, has 933 passing yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions this season and is signed through 2028. Philadelphia has lost three straight and is also without Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley at running back.
How serious did it turn out to be?
Much more serious than first described. In a joint statement Monday, the Eagles and Hurts' agent, Nicole Lynn, said he has deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, meaning the clot moved from his leg to his lungs. They called it provoked by the Oct. 4 cleat injury, said he is "clinically stable and has no significant functional limitations," and that "Jalen's prognosis is very good, and we expect a full recovery." He is on injured reserve, and blood thinners are expected to keep him out at least three months, which effectively ends his season. Tanner McKee, who went 26 of 45 for 215 yards in the loss to Carolina, is the starter. "I have the utmost confidence in Tanner, but I miss him," Nick Sirianni said. The league will not punish the Eagles for clearing Hurts to play in London, a league source said, and found no violation of the injury report policy. NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills called the team's approach "very conservative, very patient-focused and appropriately guarded in every step" and said the idea that outside factors would lead doctors to put a player at risk is "nonsense." The NFL Players Association disagreed: "Before conclusions are drawn about how this situation was handled, there must be a full investigation into what occurred," adding that the league had told the union it did not plan to review the care.
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: Eagles QB Jalen Hurts ruled out vs. Panthers with blood clot in calf
- ESPN: Eagles' Jalen Hurts expected to miss season over blood clots
- ESPN: NFLPA calls for 'full investigation' into medical care provided to Eagles' Hurts
- ESPN: Reports: NFL won't punish Eagles for letting Jalen Hurts play with blood clot
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